Vattenfall – the Swedish utility which aims to build the pioneering European Offshore Wind Deployment Centre (EOWDC) off the Grampian coast – has awarded three local supply contracts.
Its Tier-1 contractors – J Murphy & Sons, MHI Vestas Offshore Wind and Boskalis – gave presentations and met with potential sub-contractors at a local event last week.
Prioritising safety, the first contract was awarded to Blackdog-based Donside Safety, which will supply all personal protective equipment to workers on the EOWDC.
The company employs 14 core staff. ‘Modest’ contracts were also awarded to local publicity and photographic suppliers.
Onshore construction near Blackdog will start in October and is due to complete early in 2018. Works offshore will commence in Aberdeen Bay in late 2017. The project is scheduled to generate first power in summer 2018 and operate for 20 years or more.
Councillor Rob Merson, chairman of Aberdeenshire Council’s Formartine area Committee, said: “To have our local businesses involved in delivering a project that will demonstrate and test the latest in offshore wind technology is a huge boost to the North-east.
“Being able to diversify our economy and skills is crucial to the region and this represents a first class opportunity to be involved in a ground breaking project.”
Dale Rabey, director at Donside Safety, said: “As a well-established company of over 25 years and specialist in the oil and gas industry we are delighted to now be servicing the wind and energy sector”.
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